RF adapter for field device with low voltage intrinsic safety clamping

• US 8,787,848 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kielb, John A., Westfield, Brian L., Orth, Kelly M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): HU, RUI MENG
• Application Number:
  US12/486,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20090253388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 455/91, 455/340, 455/100, 4551151-1154, 455/117, 4551271-129, 455 6711- 69, 700/19, 700/2, 700/9, 700/12, 700/37, 700/79, 710/11, 710/12, 710/16, 710/106, 710 72- 74
• US Class Current: 455/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34313 Power supply for communication delivered by, derived from 4-20-mA current loop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

An adapter for coupling to a process control transmitter of the type used to monitor a process variable in an industrial process includes a first connection configured to couple to a first side of a two wire process control loop, a second connection configured to couple to a second side of the two wire process control loop and in series with a first connection to a process control transmitter, and a third connection configured to couple to a second connection of the process control transmitter. Wireless communication circuitry is coupled to at least the third connection and is configured to provide wireless communication for the process control transmitter. Intrinsic safety circuitry coupled to at least one of the first, second and third connections is configured to limit transfer of electrical energy to a value which is less than an intrinsic safety value.

Claims

1. An adapter for coupling to a process control transmitter of the type used to monitor a process variable in an industrial process, the adapter comprising:

a first adapter connection configured to couple to a first wire of a two wire process control loop;

a second adapter connection configured to couple to a first transmitter connection of a process control transmitter;

a third adapter connection configured to couple to a second transmitter connection of the process control transmitter and to a second wire of the process control loop, wherein the third adapter connection is used to communicate information on the two wire process control loop;

wireless communication circuitry configured to provide wireless communication for the process control transmitter, wherein the first and second adapter connections are used to power the wireless communication circuitry; and

intrinsic safety circuitry coupled to at least one of the first, second and third adapter connections configured to limit energy transfer to a value which is less than an intrinsic safety value, wherein the two wire loop is used for powering the process control transmitter and powering the wireless communication circuitry, and the two wire process control loop is further configured to ca information communicated from the third adapter connection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intrinsic safety circuitry comprises a diode.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diode comprises a zener diode.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diode is connected between the first and second adapter connections.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diode is connected between the second and third adapter connections.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diode is connected between the first and third adapter connections.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intrinsic safety circuitry is coupled between the first, second and third adapter connections.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including a capacitor configured to store energy for use in operating the wireless communication circuitry.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the capacitor comprises a super capacitor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intrinsic safety circuitry comprises active circuitry.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the active circuitry is configured to provide triple redundancy of components.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the active circuitry comprises an active shunt.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 including a fuse coupled in series with at least one of the first, second and third adapter connections.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the intrinsic safety circuitry is coupled in series between the capacitor and the at least one of the first, second and third adapter connections.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the intrinsic safety circuitry comprises a diode.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the intrinsic safety circuitry comprises a resistance.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intrinsic circuitry is configured to limit storage of electrical energy stored in the adapter to a value which is less than the intrinsic safety value.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 including communication circuitry configured to communicate with the process control transmitter.

19. A method of coupling a wireless adapter to a process control transmitter of the type used to monitor a process variable in an industrial process, the method comprising:

coupling a first adapter connection to a first wire of a two wire process control loop;

coupling a second adapter connection to a first transmitter connection of a process control transmitter;

coupling a third adapter connection to a second transmitter connection of the process control transmitter;

powering wireless communication circuitry with power received from the two wire process control loop through the first and second adapter connections;

communicating information on the two wire process control loop using the third adapter connection; and

limiting energy transfer through at least one of the first, second and third adaptive connections to a value which is less than an intrinsic safety value, wherein the two wire loop is used for powering the process control transmitter and powering the wireless communication circuitry, and the two wire process control loop is further configured to carry information communicated from the third adapter connection.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein limiting energy transfer comprising limiting energy going into circuitry of the adapter.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein limiting energy transfer comprising limiting energy coming out of circuitry in the adapter.

22. The method of claim 19 including storing energy in a capacitor.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the capacitor comprises a super capacitor.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of limiting uses active circuitry.

25. The method of claim 20 including limiting storage of electrical energy in the adapter to a value which is less than the value of the intrinsic safety value.